Cliff I. Davidson

Thomas and Colleen Wilmot Professor of Engineering, Emeritus

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Link 337

davidson@syr.edu

315-313-8543

Personal Website

Degree(s):

  • Ph.D., Environmental Engineering Science, California Institute of Technology, 1977. 
  • M.S., Environmental Engineering Science, California Institute of Technology, 1973. 
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 1972.

Lab/Center Affiliation(s):

  • Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems
  • Director, Center for Sustainable Engineering

Areas of Expertise:

  • Environmental transport and fate of air pollutants, especially lead and other toxic metals as well as sulfate and other inorganic acids 
  • Measurement and modeling of atmospheric dry and wet deposition of pollutants 
  • Human perceptions of energy use from day-to-day activities 
  • Assessment of performance of green infrastructure for stormwater management 
  • Protection of cities from extreme weather events due to climate change 

Current Research:

Davidson is currently studying the performance of green infrastructure for stormwater management in Syracuse, focusing on the Convention Center Green Roof. At 0.56 hectares, this is one of the largest green roofs in New York State and also one of the best-instrumented green roofs in the country. Data are collected on temperatures at various depths in the roof structure, flow of drainage water during rainstorms, water storage in the soil, and several weather parameters. Leaf area index and other plant characteristics are measured for the six species of sedum growing on the roof. The data are used to adapt and validate computer models of water flow, storage, and evaporation from the roof. In other research, Davidson is studying how public and private organizations in the U.S. and Latin America decide on strategies to protect their city from the extreme events of climate change. The events include coastal flooding, droughts, extreme heat, and pluvial flooding at inland locations. The preferences for different strategies are examined through surveys. 

Courses Taught:

  • CEE 562 Air Resources I
  • ECS 650 Managing Sustainability: Purpose, Principles, and Practices
  • CEE 463/663 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering
  • Professional development workshops for faculty around the country on developing sustainability content for engineering courses

Honors and Awards:

  • 2024 Best Case Study Award for the paper “A diagnostic analysis of low-impact development simulations with SWMM”, by Lucie L. Worthen, Christa Kelleher, and Cliff I. Davidson, Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment, Volume 8, Issue 2, May 2022 https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000976 
  • AEESP Distinguished Lecturer for 2022-2023, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors 
  • Faculty Fellow, Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, Syracuse University, elected 2016. 
  • Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, elected 2016 
  • Fellow, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, elected 2015 
  • United Methodist University Scholar-Teacher Award, Syracuse University 2014 
  • William H. and Frances M. Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching, Carnegie Mellon University, 2009 
  • 2009 Outstanding Paper Award, Literati Network Awards for Excellence, Emerald Group Publishing, for the paper “Transforming universities for sustainability: Seven case studies from around the world,” by D. Ferrer-Balas, J. Adachi, S. Banas, C.I. Davidson, A. Hoshikoshi, A. Mishra, Y. Motodoa, M. Onga, and M. Ostwald, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 9, pages 295-316, 2008 
  • Fellow, American Association for Aerosol Research, elected 2008
  • Phillip Dowd Fellowship, College of Engineering, CMU, 2007 
  • Outstanding Educator Award, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, 2007 
  • Charles Beyer Distinguished Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston, 2006 

Select Publications:

Squier-Babcock, Mallory and Cliff I. Davidson, Hydrologic performance of an extensive green roof in Syracuse, NY, Water, Vol. 12, Number 6, May 28, 2020, https://doi.org/10.3390/w12061535. 

Yang, Yige, Cliff I. Davidson, and Jianshun Zhang, Evaluation of thermal performance of green roofs via field measurements and hygrothermal simulations, Energy and Buildings, Vol. 237, Number 1:110800, April 15, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110800. 

Yang, Yige and Cliff I. Davidson, Green roof aging effect on physical properties and hydrologic performance, Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment, Volume 7, Issue 3, August 2021. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000949?af=R. 

Worthen, Lucie L., Christa Kelleher, and Cliff I. Davidson, A diagnostic analysis of low impact development simulations with SWMM, Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment, Volume 8, Issue 2, May 2022. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000976. 

Johnson, Alexander J. and Cliff I. Davidson, Estimating dry deposition of atmospheric aerosols to urban surfaces by rain washoff, Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 293, January 15, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119466.  

Johnson, Alexander J., Cliff I. Davidson, Evan Cibelli, and Anna Wojcik, Estimating Leaf Area Index and Coverage of Dominant Vegetation on an Extensive Green Roof in Syracuse, NY, Nature-Based Solutions, Vol. 3, December 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100068. 

Back to Directory